Larval growth rates of the blowfly, Calliphora vicina, over a range of temperatures
- 23 January 2006
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Medical and Veterinary Entomology
- Vol. 20 (1), 106-114
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2006.00600.x
Abstract
Blowfly larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae) fulfil an important ecological function in the decomposition of animal remains. They are also used extensively in forensic entomology, predominantly to establish a minimum time since death, or a minimum post-mortem interval, using the larval length as a 'biological clock'. This study examined the larval growth rate of a forensically important fly species, Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) at temperatures of between 4 degrees C and 30 degrees C, under controlled laboratory conditions. The laboratory flies had been trapped initially in London, U.K. The minimum developmental temperature was estimated to be 1 degrees C and 4700 accumulated degree hours (ADH) were required for development from egg hatch to the point of pupariation. Lines fitted to the laboratory larval growth data were found to adequately explain the growth of larvae in the field. The nature of variation in growth rates from geographically isolated populations is discussed.Keywords
This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- Insect Development and Forensic EntomologyPublished by Taylor & Francis Ltd ,2000
- Maternal temperature has different effects on the photoperiodic response and duration of larval diapause in blow fly (Calliphora vicina) strains collected at two latitudesPhysiological Entomology, 1998
- The use of carrion as breeding sites by the blowfly Lucilia sericata and other CalliphoridaeMedical and Veterinary Entomology, 1997
- The influence of each parent and geographic origin on larval diapause in the blow fly, Calliphora vicinaJournal of Insect Physiology, 1996
- Development rates of some pre‐adult stages in blowflies with reference to low temperaturesMedical and Veterinary Entomology, 1994
- Metabolic heat generation in dipteran larval aggregations: a consideration for forensic entomologyMedical and Veterinary Entomology, 1992
- Effects of temperature on the development and abundance of the sheep blowflyLucilia sericata(Diptera: Calliphoridae)Bulletin of Entomological Research, 1992
- A model for the aging of fly larvae in forensic entomologyForensic Science International, 1984
- Life history responses to larval food shortages in four species of necrophagous flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)Australian Journal of Ecology, 1983
- Reaction kinetics of poikilotherm developmentJournal of Theoretical Biology, 1977